Chapter 5 005 "To be able to marry this young lady is my great fortune."
With the wedding date set, time was running out for both families. The Marquis's family needed to prepare the betrothal gifts, draft invitations, and organize the banquet, while the Luo family needed to pack their bags and head to the capital, thousands of miles away, to make time for their daughter's wedding.
From a etiquette standpoint, Xiao Rong's urging was unfair to the Luo family. Fortunately, Luo Dayuan and his wife, who came from the village, were easygoing and didn't care about trivial matters. The bride-to-be, Luo Fu, was overjoyed at this perfect marriage, and the sooner she got married, the more at ease she felt.
Knowing he had been impolite, Xiao Rong had considered all aspects carefully. He instructed the Luo family that they only needed to send someone to the capital, and that the Marquis's mansion would prepare all the usual dowry and gifts for his daughter's wedding in advance, so that the Luo family wouldn't have to move tables, chairs, bowls, quilts, washbasins, and other items over.
Luo Dayuan and Wang Qiuyue finally stopped being polite to him.
All of this was agreed upon. Xiao Rong would spend one more day catching up with Luo Dayuan, and they would have to set off for the capital early on August 21st. As an official, he couldn't afford to be delayed.
Xiao Yu, a candidate for the imperial examination, will travel to the capital with the Luo family.
The journey was long, and Xiao Rong was not entirely at ease with his son, so he repeatedly warned him to keep quiet.
Xiao Yu: "Father, you are overthinking it. I would not be rude to a person who observes propriety."
Scholars have their own set of rules and etiquette to uphold, officials have their own duties to fulfill, and ordinary people already struggle to make a living; he will not impose the same set of rules and etiquette on everyone.
Xiao Rong snorted, "I'll only believe you this once. If you anger your father-in-law's family halfway back, I'll break your legs!"
Xiao Yu simply escorted his father downstairs.
.
Huangqiao Village.
The Luo family has decided to depart on August 25th.
Before this, Luo Dayuan and his wife shared the joyous news with their neighbors that their youngest daughter was going to marry into a wealthy family in the capital. Once the news spread, the neighbors flocked to the Luo family like bees, ostensibly to say goodbye, but actually to find out more details. Wang Qiuyue smiled and repeated the same script, seeing off the guests before turning back to pack her luggage. Besides clothes and shoes for her temporary stay in the capital, she also packed dowry items for her youngest daughter, such as gold and silver jewelry.
Luo Fu stayed by her mother's side almost every step of the way, watching her mother make arrangements for her and listening to her mother's cheerful chatter.
“Sigh, the dowry we prepared for your sister back then wouldn’t be too bad even if it were in the county. Your husband’s family is too high-ranking. Even if we scraped together 188 taels for you, it wouldn’t be enough to make you stand tall in the Marquis’s mansion.”
Luo Fu knew how much her family had; 188 taels of silver already accounted for most of it, and her mother had also gone to the city to buy her a set of six pieces of gold jewelry.
The difference in social status between the two families is a well-known fact. Luo Fu dared to accept the marriage because she was not afraid of being looked down upon. She was only warmed by her parents' high regard for her.
She hugged her mother from behind, pressing her face against her mother's back: "Mother, do you really not want to settle down in the capital?"
Wang Qiuyue patted her daughter's hand wrapped around her waist: "For the sake of wealth and status in the capital, I really don't want to go to a place where I don't know anyone and might be looked down upon everywhere. It's not as comfortable as living in our village. I actually wanted to go there so I could see you two sisters more often, but I can't accept the house from the Xiao family or the official position for your brother. We are poor, but we must have backbone. Otherwise, you can use the breach of contract to control Marquis Xiao, and the Xiao family can also use these two things to look down on you for the rest of your life."
Luo Fu, being worldly-wise, knew her mother was right. She pondered and said, "If you're willing to leave your homeland, you can move to the outskirts of the capital. That way, you can be just as comfortable as you are here. My older sister and I can also go over for a meal or even stay for a few days whenever we have time. Building a house in the suburbs doesn't cost much, and it's easy to acquire a few acres of land."
Wang Qiuyue was quite tempted and said happily, "It's a good idea, but there's no rush. Your brother-in-law's situation hasn't been decided yet. Let's wait until they can both establish themselves in the capital. As for your brother, he's tall and strong. Next time the Beijing garrison selects soldiers from the local areas, let your brother try his best. If he's selected, he'll go to the capital. If he's not selected, he can stay here. He won't starve."
Luo Fu felt sorry for her brother when she heard this: "We'll see when the time comes. Maybe there's a way to get my brother transferred to the capital ahead of time without relying on the Xiao family."
.
With everything prepared, on the afternoon of the 24th, the Luo family entrusted the house to the cook for care, and the family of four, along with their maid, went into the city in the carriage left by Xiao Rong. They would stay in the Pei family's guest room that night and set off again the next morning with Luo Lan and his wife, as well as Xiao Yu.
When Master Pei learned of the marriage between the Luo and Xiao families, he suggested that Pei Xingshu invite Xiao Yu to stay at his home. After all, they would be relatives, and it wouldn't make sense to invite someone to stay at an inn. Pei Xingshu went to invite him, but as he expected, Xiao Yu politely declined, saying that he didn't want to bother him for just a few days.
Thinking of his stepmother and brothers at home, Pei Xingshu didn't insist too much.
The Pei residence was unusually lively that afternoon. One moment Pei Xingshu's stepmother came to chat with Wang Qiuyue, and the next moment Pei Xingshu's sister-in-law and brother-in-law came to get closer to Luo Fu and her sister, saying that if the two sisters became successful, they should help their relatives. They did not come empty-handed, but brought two gifts, one for Luo Lan to help with the new house and the other for Luo Fu as a dowry.
After the guests left, the two sisters secretly compared the gifts and found that Rose had received a better one.
Roland: "Look at you, you're all so snobbish. Before, when you saw me bringing gifts home, you would indirectly insult me by calling me a poor relative."
Luo Fu: "It's only natural. You took a liking to my brother-in-law at first sight, and I took a liking to Young Master Xiao at first sight. It was actually a kind of snobbery."
If her brother-in-law and Xiao Yu were both poorly dressed, even if they were handsome and talented, she and her sister probably wouldn't dare to marry them, fearing they would suffer after marriage.
Roland quickly instructed his sister: "You can say this to me, but don't be silly enough to say it to the Third Young Master. Men are all petty, and scholars especially like to act superior. You have to coax them with sweet words."
Luo Fu raised an eyebrow: "Is this how you see your brother-in-law too?"
Roland: "He's alright, but I only really tried to open up to him after I gave birth to Yi-ge'er. You haven't even exchanged a few words with the Third Young Master, so don't rush to show your true feelings."
Luo Fu pouted: "So what if I show it off? My true nature is perfectly fine, there's nothing to be ashamed of."
Roland's younger sister was indeed impeccable. His only worry was that his sister had been pampered by her family since childhood and had almost never suffered any grievances. However, if a new bride wanted to gain a foothold in her husband's family, she had to build a good relationship with her husband. If she wanted a noble young master from a noble family whom she did not know to protect her, she would have to be gentle and considerate and go along with him in every way.
Luo Fu had her own plans. She coveted the wealth and status of the Marquis's mansion and was willing to tolerate minor matters, but it was impossible for her to blindly obey the Xiao family or even Xiao Yu.
The following morning, five carriages drove out of the city gate of Guangling City in succession. Luo Dayuan and his wife rode in one, Luo Lan and her husband in another, Luo Fu and her maid Ping An in another, Xiao Yu in another, and the last carriage was filled with luggage. Luo Song and Xiao Yu's guard Qingchuan rode alongside them on horseback, along with eight strong bodyguards hired by Pei Xingshu from the carriage rental company.
Emperor Yongcheng had ruled for thirty-one years, and had unified the north and south of the country for twenty-three years after conquering Wu. In the early years, the emperor issued an edict to allow the people to recuperate, and the people enjoyed a period of peace. However, with Emperor Yongcheng launching two consecutive northern expeditions against the remnants of Yin in the past decade, the people had to pay more grain to supply the army while also suffering the devastating news of their men dying on the battlefield. As a result, the people's suffering led to more trouble, and in the past two years, bandits have sprung up everywhere, making the business of bodyguards increasingly prosperous.
When Xiao Rong and his son arrived in Yangzhou, they only had men and horses. They sped along at breakneck speed, and even the thieves who wanted to take advantage of them couldn't catch up. Moreover, the four men didn't even bring a large bundle, so it seemed like there was no profit to be made, and the thieves didn't want to chase them.
Now that five carriages are lined up, they are a hot commodity in the eyes of thieves. Both Xiao Rong and Master Pei have told them to be careful.
The route to the capital was the same as when Xiao Yu came, so Xiao Yu took charge of arranging the inns for each day. If they could stay in the city, they would stay in the city; if they couldn't make it, they would choose to stay in a large town.
Luo Fu quickly realized her hypocrisy. Because, according to her true nature, after being trapped in the carriage for so long, she really wanted to switch horses with her brother and ride for a while. However, she was afraid that the refined Young Master Xiao would find her not dignified enough, so she held back. After all, they were not yet married, and she could not let her fiancé dislike her first.
Thus, Xiao Yu sat in the carriage reading, while Luo Fu obediently remained in the carriage, maintaining a dignified posture. The two could only briefly meet each other when getting in and out of the carriage each day. Xiao Yu strictly adhered to etiquette, never glancing at his fiancée even once. This made Luo Fu, who liked to secretly watch him, uneasy. She wondered if he was simply being polite or if he was too lazy to look at the country wife he was forced to marry by his father.
When they had a chance to be alone, Rosie confided in her sister.
Roland laughed and said, "With your looks and figure, he couldn't possibly be indifferent. He must be steady and polite."
Praising her face was fine, but when Luo Fu looked at her obviously stretched-out dress and then glanced at her sister, who had given birth but was still not as tall as her, her cheeks and ears started to burn.
Despite the heat, Ralph regained her confidence. Although her family background was inferior, when it came to beauty, Ralph had never lost to anyone.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. On the evening of the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the convoy arrived at a town forty miles southwest of the capital. They would be able to enter the capital the next day.
Because it was the Double Ninth Festival, Pei Xingshu specially gave the innkeeper a sum of money to have the kitchen prepare two tables of good food, small tables for four people. He, his father-in-law, Luo Song, and Xiao Yu would sit at one table, and his mother-in-law and her two children would sit at another.
The inn needs time to prepare the food and drinks, so everyone went to their rooms to rest first.
Because of its proximity to the capital, the town's inns are often frequented by merchants and travelers, so this inn is even better than some inns in smaller towns. Only six private rooms remain on the second floor.
Luo Fu's room was located between her parents and her brother. When Roland knocked on the door, Luo Fu had just finished washing her face and was sitting at the wooden table getting ready. On the table was her own bronze mirror.
Ping An went and opened the door.
Luo Fu put down her eyebrow pencil, turned to look at her sister, and saw that her sister's smiling face clearly saw through her thoughts. Luo Fu immediately sat up straight again in embarrassment.
Roland walked up behind his sister, looked at her rosy cheeks in the bronze mirror, and teased, "So red, she could catch someone's eye even without rouge."
Luo Fu retorted stubbornly, "I didn't intend to seduce anyone, nor did I plan to put on rouge."
Why are you putting on all that makeup? It's obvious you've dressed up carefully, you have ulterior motives, and you're not dignified at all!
"You're not stupid after all." Roland sat on the stool next to her, turned her sister around, and personally drew her eyebrows, making sure that no man could tell that she had been made up.
After getting dressed, the two sisters sat on the edge of the bed whispering to each other. About 15 minutes later, the waiter came up and knocked on Pei Xingshu's door, saying that the banquet was about to start and inviting them to enjoy it.
Pei Xingshu then went to invite Luo Song, Xiao Yu, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law before finally stopping outside Luo Fu's room.
Roland winked at his sister and called out, "You two go ahead, we'll be there soon."
As the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, Roland whispered smugly in his sister's ear, "When you go downstairs, I don't believe the Third Young Master won't see you."
Luo Fu's ears tickled, so she laughed and avoided them.
Downstairs, at the men's table, Luo Dayuan sat in the main seat on the east side. Luo Song was about to sit on the south side when Pei Xingshu subtly blocked him with one hand, while inviting Xiao Yu to sit on the south side. The south side was the seat of honor for the father-in-law, befitting Xiao Yu's most distinguished status among the remaining three. Of course, it was also the most convenient spot to look at the stairs besides the father-in-law's seat.
Almost as soon as the four of them, including Wang Qiuyue at the next table, sat down, the Luo sisters appeared at the top of the stairs on the second floor.
Luo Dayuan had been eating with his prospective son-in-law for half a month, but they hadn't said much. The two remained distant. It was truly baffling how Xiao Rong, that warrior, had raised such a handsome yet stern and taciturn son.
Just as he was feeling awkward, his daughters appeared, and he looked at them with a smile as they blossomed into two beautiful flowers.
Pei Xingshu and Luo Song glanced at each other and then looked away.
Xiao Yu glanced at them casually, then politely faced the table. Only after the two sisters came down the stairs and walked towards her did Xiao Yu suddenly stand up.
His movement startled Luo Dayuan and also made the two sisters stop in their tracks.
To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yu simply lowered his eyes and bowed to the two of them.
As the older sister, Roland reacted and said softly, "You must be tired from your journey, Third Young Master. Please sit down. There's no need for such formalities."
Xiao Yu agreed, and after the two sisters sat down at the women's table, he sat back down.
Luo Song glanced at his brother-in-law and then at his future brother-in-law. No one scolded him, but he felt that he was really very vulgar.
During the meal, the Luo family tacitly accepted the Xiao family's rule of not speaking while eating, and everyone remained quiet, except for Pei Xingshu, who offered more polite toasts.
At the women's table, Luo Fu deliberately ate very, very slowly, so slowly that the mother and her two children, along with the men, all put down their chopsticks at the same time.
As night falls, it's time to go upstairs and rest.
Luo Fu mustered her courage and said to Xiao Yu, who was standing next to her brother-in-law, "Third Young Master, may we move aside to talk? I have something I would like to ask you to answer."
Xiao Yu finally looked over, and after a brief eye contact, said, "I am willing to serve you, young lady."
Luo Fu then told her family to go upstairs first, and she led Xiao Yu out of the inn. There were still a few tables of guests downstairs, so it wasn't a good time for the two of them to whisper to each other.
Luo Fu didn't go too far; she stopped after walking a dozen steps and turned around.
Xiao Yu stopped and saw his fiancée lowering her head in embarrassment, so his gaze lingered on her face.
He's not a block of wood; he has no curiosity whatsoever about the wife he's about to spend his life with.
Luo Fu was only up to his shoulder, and her gesture of looking up was too obvious. She looked at her fiancé's chest and asked, "We are not a good match. The Marquis ordered you to marry me for the sake of the heir. Are you really willing?"
So that's what you were asking. Xiao Yu replied, "Social status is all just empty words. It is my good fortune to have you as my wife."
It was a very nice answer, but because it was answered too quickly, it sounded like he was trying to coax her. Luo Fu glanced at him quickly and whispered, "If you don't believe me, you've never even looked at me properly. Where is the fortune in that?"
With a soft, dissatisfied tone, it was like a cotton ball that thought it was fierce, but landed on Xiao Yu's heart.
This was the first time Xiao Yu had been in such a situation, and the unfamiliar feeling made him remain silent for a moment before telling the truth: "I saw you on the bridge at the village entrance the day we first met. You are a goddess-like beauty, and I am just an ordinary mortal. How could it not be my good fortune?"
Luo Fu: "..."
Her face flushed red, she gave him a shy glare, and ran away without looking back.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Here they are! 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com